Robin Van Persie Admits Frustration With Manchester United Teammates

Van Persie Accuses United Teammates Of Getting In His Way
Manchester United's Dutch forward Robin van Persie takes off his jersey after losing the round of 16 Champions League football match Olympiakos vs Manchester United at Karaiskaki Stadium in Athens on February 25, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United's Dutch forward Robin van Persie takes off his jersey after losing the round of 16 Champions League football match Olympiakos vs Manchester United at Karaiskaki Stadium in Athens on February 25, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)
ARIS MESSINIS via Getty Images

Robin van Persie accused his Manchester United teammates of getting in his way as he cut a frustrated figure following the club's damaging Champions League defeat to Olympiakos.

Goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell left United with a huge mountain to climb to make it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Van Persie wasted a good chance to score a vital away goal at the end of the match as the Dutchman put in an uncharacteristically poor display.

The former Arsenal striker, speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS after the match, said that his cause was not helped by the positioning of some of his teammates.

Van Persie missed United's only clear chance in the second-half

"It was quite difficult because my teammates are often in the area where I want to play," the United striker said.

"That's why I have to change my tactics. Unfortunately, they are often in my area.

"It was much too slow today and we only had one shot on target in the whole match against Olympiakos, which is far too little. Everyone is very disappointed."

United have to win by three clear goals to be sure of their passage to the last eight of the competition they were claiming they could win in the run-up to Tuesday's first leg in Athens.

With United out of both domestic cup competitions and 11 points adrift of the top four in the Barclays Premier League, the Champions League is the only trophy David Moyes' team can win this year, and Van Persie is refusing to throw in the towel just yet.

"It is still possible, because with all due respect to Olympiakos, we should be able to win 3-0 at home," the striker added. "It is not that they were fantastic (in the first leg), we just mostly failed."

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